Wishbone Ash
Wishbone Ash formed in London in 1969 and released their
self-titled debut album in 1970. By 1971 they were Melody Maker's
brightest hopes for the coming year; a bluesy, twin-guitar outfit
whose second album, Pilgrimage, would tip the hat to Pentangle and
Fairport Convention.
It was on 1973's Argus, though, that the band achieved a
form that would never be recaptured, its stand-out track Blowin'
Free melding breezy vocal harmonies and stylish lead guitar in
a manner reminiscent of Steely Dan's Reelin' In The Years.
Laurie Wisefield replaced Ted Turner on guitar in 1974 and the
band recorded their There's The Rub LP in America, becoming
US residents in the process.
Subsequent album releases were; Locked In (1976); New
England (1976); Front Page News (1977); No Smoke
Without Fire (1978); Just Testing (1980); Number The
Brave (1981) and Hot Ash (1981).
Undertaking an exhaustive world tour in 1980, Martin Turner
departed the band and was replaced by John Wetton (ex-Family)
initially, and then by Trevor Bolder (ex-Uriah
Heep). Bolder
returned to Uriah Heep in 1983 and was replaced by Mervyn Spence
(ex-Trapeze).
The original line-up reunited in 1987 for a couple of albums
but Steve Upton quit in 1990, with Martin Turner following in 1991
and Ted Turner in 1993. Thereafter, Andy Powell (the only
remaining founding member) decided to operate Wishbone Ash with
session musicians as and when he desired.
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